Agriculture Development in Afghanistan

The objective of this transition project is to transfer organizational and individual functional capacity from externally funded programmes to the MAIL formal organizational structure. To accomplish this requires close coordination with a wide range of stakeholders, internal to MAIL’s technical and administrative structures (e.g., Human Resources, Finance) and other international donors supporting MAIL’s transition efforts.  The project will focus on supporting the transition process of integrating the five EU-funded programmes into MAIL’s institutional organization, specifically:

• Assisting MAIL’s Deputy Minister for Technical Affairs Directorate assume policy and programme, technical, and administrative responsibilities of the EU-funded programmes

• Coordinating transition activities specific to the EU-funded agriculture programmes with MAIL and other donors,

• Assuring the regularity of all the transition programme in MAIL, and

• Advising the EU Delegation on specific technical matters related to structuring their budget support post-transition.

The structure and functioning of project management unit which will be in a position to assume the above-mentioned responsibilities should be proposed as an introduction to the expertise mobilized. This structure illustrated by an organigramme will take into consideration i) the external staff related to the five EU-funded agricultural programmes expected to be absorbed by the Project and than progressively transitioned to the MAIL Taskheel and ii) the expected need for National and International Technical Assistance. While the overall requirement for national and international expertise is left to the appreciation of the contractor, the following expertises is considered by the contracting authority and the Beneficiary (MAIL) as essential.

The Team leader will be responsible for the overall project implementation. He will have the responsibilities for the delivery of the requested services listed in section 4.2. He will support the overall planning, management and implementation of the project. The Team Leader oversees the transition of the five EU-funded agriculture support programmes from external funding to on-budget support through Government of Afghanistan structures. As the senior project representative, the incumbent serves as the technical and administrative supervisor of all project activities. Other responsibilities envisioned include, but is not necessarily limited to:

• maintaining relations with senior MAIL management, MoF and the EU;
• Coordinating project activities with senior MAIL leadership and representatives of other donor-funded technical assistance and capacity building across the Ministry;
• Act as a resource person to international best practices on all aspects of project Implementation for the resident teams;
• Provide advice and instructions on all aspects of project implementation as required;
• Ensuring timely project implementation, monitoring activities against a results framework,  managing project staff and subsidiaries;
• Monitor the managerial, administration and financial aspects of the project;
• Ensuring the project’s financial accountability and financial reporting;
• Regular reporting to the Contracting Authority and the EU delegation on project progress and possible issues limiting the attainment of planned project outputs.